Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Preservation of Quality of Native Indian Seeds
There is well established system available for analysis of seed quality of native Indian crop and trees in the Country. 161 State Seed Testing Laboratories and six Central Seed Testing Laboratories are functioning in the Country. These laboratories are analyzing seeds of native Indian crop and trees for various quality parameters.
As per the information there was a call for greater biodiversity in agriculture sector during COP 26, however, no consensus on the proposal of biodiversity in agriculture among the participating Countries and no final decision was taken. Hence, India has not committed anything on the biodiversity during the COP 26. However, the Government has a policy to encourage conservation of the seeds of native Indian varieties of various crops and trees. The National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources  has conserved 94,609 native Indian varieties of different crops and trees in Gene Banks located in different States.
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Rights Authority  has also registered 1896 native Indian varieties of different crops enabling the farmer to commercialize these varieties. PPV & FRA encourages the community and individuals engaged in conservation, improvement and preservation of plant genetic resources of economic plants and their wild relatives particularly in the areas identified as agro-biodiversity hotspots by awarding the community and individuals who have played stellar roles in such activities.
In order to ensure availability of native seeds and improve their usage by farmers., Indian Council of Agricultural Research is developing high yielding and multi stress tolerant varieties of different crop including cereals, millet, pulses, oilseeds and fruits suited to different agro-climatic condition. In the last seven years, 1956 improved varieties have been developed out of which 924 of cereals, 291 of oilseeds, 304 of pulses, 239 of fiber crops, 118 of forage crops, 64 of sugarcane and 16 of under-utilized crops. In addition, 288 varieties of horticultural crops have been developed.
In order to enhance indigenous species of trees, this Department is implementing Scheme called Sub-Mission on Agro-forestry since 2016-17 to encourage and expand tree plantation. Prominent tree species including indigenous tree species like Indian rosewood, Teak, Eucalyptus, Malabar Neem, ailanthus, Poplar, etc. are promoted for plantation on farm land along with other species. Details of State wise and year wise financial assistance provided under Sub-Mission on Agro-forestry Scheme is at Annexure-I.
In addition, this Department is providing assistance for seed production and distribution under various existing Schemes viz. National Food Security Mission, National Mission on Edible oil-oil palm, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture and Sub- Mission on Seeds and Planting Materials.
ANNEXURE-I
Details of the financial assistance provided to State Governments/UTs for the promotion of agro-forestry under Sub-Mission on Agro-forestry Scheme since inception.

|
|
S.No.
|
|
Name of State
|
|
2016-17
|
|
2017-18
|
|
2018-19
|
|
2019-20
|
|
2020-21
|
|
1
|
|
Meghalaya
|
|
0.00
|
|
1.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.26
|
|
2
|
|
Mizoram
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.50
|
|
1.50
|
|
1.75
|
|
1.00
|
|
3
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.91
|
|
1.50
|
|
0.73
|
|
1.10
|
|
4
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
3.15
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
5
|
|
Bihar
|
|
0.00
|
|
3.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
1.00
|
|
0.20
|
|
6
|
|
Chhatishgarh
|
|
0.00
|
|
2.50
|
|
1.50
|
|
2.00
|
|
1.00
|
|
7
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
4.50
|
|
2.70
|
|
4.00
|
|
4.00
|
|
4.00
|
|
8
|
|
Haryana
|
|
1.75
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
9
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
1.15
|
|
0.487
|
|
1.00
|
|
0.83
|
|
0.75
|
|
10
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
0.00
|
|
4.00
|
|
1.00
|
|
2.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
11
|
|
Jammu & Kashmir
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.61
|
|
3.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.75
|
|
12
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
3.25
|
|
4.50
|
|
5.56
|
|
7.00
|
|
5.36
|
|
13
|
|
Kerala
|
|
0.00
|
|
2.06
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
14
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
4.20
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
15
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
0.00
|
|
4.00
|
|
2.00
|
|
0.75
|
|
1.60
|
|
16
|
|
Odisha
|
|
0.00
|
|
4.00
|
|
2.00
|
|
0.75
|
|
1.50
|
|
17
|
|
Punjab
|
|
2.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
4.48
|
|
2.50
|
|
1.38
|
|
18
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
0.00
|
|
6.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
19
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
2.50
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
2.31
|
|
3.34
|
|
20
|
|
Telangana
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.80
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
21
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
0.00
|
|
6.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
2.00
|
|
4.00
|
|
22
|
|
UT of Ladakh
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.00
|
|
0.50
|
|
Total
|
|
22.50
|
|
42.27
|
|
28.35
|
|
27.62
|
|
26.73
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Rajya Sabha Today.